Crowd Control for a Caster Nightblade?

[ImpracticalDogg]

I have two nightblade-based dual-wield characters that I like a lot. So I want to try something completely different. The caster builds I've found use Phantasmal Blades. At low levels it works well when I can get a clear line of sight at my main target.
But mobs get in the way and I can't hit my target easily. Is there a crowd control skill I can use - some sort of AOE effect?
Amarasta's Blade Burst seems like a good option. I don't mind carrying a melee weapon for occasions when I want to trigger ABB. Is there a better skill caster skill than can do this?
I have the base game only, and don't want to select another class until I'm in the mid-30 levels.

[MedeaFleecestealer]

Just get Heart Seeker maxed, gives 100% chance to pass through enemies.

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

crowd control generally isn't really effective like that because of resist
tho looking at OFF changes for 1.2 that might suggest some stuff could become more useful
what Medea says is correct tho, Phantasmal skills has penetration, so you'll want to max heart seeker
but more so, since PB spreads it's projectiles, you actually want to facetank your primary intended target, so you get to capitalize on its shotgun and deal max dmg

[Morton Salt]

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

but more so, since PB spreads it's projectiles, you actually want to facetank your primary intended target, so you get to capitalize on its shotgun and deal max dmg

If i remember PB spread is based on where cursor is, around edges of the screen spread is very tight, so you dont need to facetank anything. :v

At @OP yea get ur Heart Seeker max asap, its veri juicy!

[ImpracticalDogg]

Originally posted by MedeaFleecestealer:

Just get Heart Seeker maxed, gives 100% chance to pass through enemies.

Ok, that helps. But how do I clear a mob closing in on me where I need AoE eg in a locked room where I can't simply kite?

[Morton Salt]

Originally posted by ImpracticalDogg:

Originally posted by MedeaFleecestealer:

Just get Heart Seeker maxed, gives 100% chance to pass through enemies.

Ok, that helps. But how do I clear a mob closing in on me where I need AoE eg in a locked room where I can't simply kite?

You can get ring of steel 1 point with ring of ice to freeze AND stun everyone around you, it has low cd and after that just spamming ur PB to clean everyting, at least its what i did while playing with PB, lel

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

Originally posted by Morton Salt:

If i remember PB spread is based on where cursor is, around edges of the screen spread is very tight, so you dont need to facetank anything. :v

this is just BS
i'm telling OP to facetank for a reason
this is cursor at screen edge, and the potential spread you get (remember blades can vary their position within the V)
https://imgur.com/a/SrbCOyC
you don't want this kinda of spread on your main target
*PB dmg is scaled based on the assumption you shotgun target
** and remember the spread gets "bigger" as you add more projectiles

[ImpracticalDogg]

Thanks all - I'll try these suggestions out :)

[Morton Salt]

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

Originally posted by Morton Salt:

If i remember PB spread is based on where cursor is, around edges of the screen spread is very tight, so you dont need to facetank anything. :v

this is just BS
i'm telling OP to facetank for a reason
this is cursor at screen edge, and the potential spread you get (remember blades can vary their position within the V)
https://imgur.com/a/SrbCOyC
you don't want this kinda of spread on your main target
*PB dmg is scaled based on the assumption you shotgun target
** and remember the spread gets "bigger" as you add more projectiles

I remember throwing all projectiles in one straight line :v, just now i dont remember if it was actually when u have curser at edge of screen or closer to ur own character, maybe they have changed it.

[ImpracticalDogg]

The tooltip lists xy% weapon damage so you should be holding a beefy 2 hander I guess. I assume the weapon damage will then be added according to the type specified by the weapon ie fire if you want.
But Heart Seeker only lists Vitality and Bleeding so PB is basically most effective if that is what you specialise on

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

Originally posted by Morton Salt:

I remember throwing all projectiles in one straight line :v, just now i dont remember if it was actually when u have curser at edge of screen or closer to ur own character, maybe they have changed it.

you can get another/different issue by doing so, and that's the projectile range "interference"/cancellation, where bullets and other stuff will simply "randomly" vanish/despawn closer/earlier than their actual max range, aside from impacting terrain elevation ofc, which makes close char cursor sorta janky
i wouldn't call the "hold cursor on char" straight line PB exploit "reliable" enough to use, tho you can practice anything ofc
and simply just recommend facetanking, it's simpler, "better"/more guaranteed (while also not technically being an "abuse"/using the skill the intended way)

[Safarel]

on beta 1.2 crowd control skills works very (and actually surprisingly) well, OFF and BT are now completely viable options, even without a dedicated set

[ImpracticalDogg]

Originally posted by Safarel:

on beta 1.2 crowd control skills works very (and actually surprisingly) well, OFF and BT are now completely viable options, even without a dedicated set

Sorry, OFF and BT? I'm a bit tired atm

[MedeaFleecestealer]

Originally posted by ImpracticalDogg:

Originally posted by Safarel:

on beta 1.2 crowd control skills works very (and actually surprisingly) well, OFF and BT are now completely viable options, even without a dedicated set

Sorry, OFF and BT? I'm a bit tired atm

Olexa's Flash Freeze and Blade Trap

[Wintermute]

Both will be insanely strong. interrupting and cancelling bosses in priceless.

[ImpracticalDogg]

OK, with Frenetic Throw (to lower mana cost) and Heart Seeker (cutting through waves of enemies) I find that PB works well. The only damage types at this level from PB seem to be bleed (base PB) and vitality (Frenetic Throw converts all piece damage to vitality damage). The only skill synergies within the Nightblade mastery seem to be Anatomy of Murder to lower resistances and Devouring Blades for extra vitality and bleeding damage.
I want to play pure Nightblade until at least the mid-30s because I like to experiment with a build before committing to a second mastery. But DB isn't available until much later.
At the moment I get up close and personal with Shadow Strike, hit with PB and then fall back and heal with Pneumatic Burst.
Am I missing something - I like to have a couple of different attack patterns make things interesting, and for flexibility with different bosses